What Defines an Ecosystem?

The basic unit of study in environmental science is the ecosystem. An ecosystem consists of a biological community and its physical environment. Here are the most important things you need to know about ecosystems:

An ecosystem can be as small as a drop of water or as large as a forest.

Some ecosystems (such as caves) have clear boundaries, while others (such as forests) do not.

An ecosystem provides the organisms that live in it what they need to survive: food (energy), water, and shelter.

All the biological processes in an ecosystem run on energy captured from the sun.

Energy moves around an ecosystem through the food web.

The number of producers (or plants) in an ecosystem determines that ecosystem’s productivity potential.